"emergency handle" on a car ?

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Networkn
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#863546 22-Jul-2013 13:23

If my right foot isn't on the accelerator, it's hovering over the brake.

mattwnz

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#863548 22-Jul-2013 13:25

ajobbins:

It is strongly advised NOT to do this in an emergency. You often shut off vital systems designed to help you in an emergency (Especially in modern cars). Even if the accelerator got stuck to the floor, the cars brakes should have enough power to bring you to a stop, however putting the car into Neutral is a good idea, especially if really need to stop in a hurry.
.

Although you would think that the computer in a car would override someone pulling out the key while it is moving, to make it safe.

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#863550 22-Jul-2013 13:31

mattwnz:
ajobbins:

It is strongly advised NOT to do this in an emergency. You often shut off vital systems designed to help you in an emergency (Especially in modern cars). Even if the accelerator got stuck to the floor, the cars brakes should have enough power to bring you to a stop, however putting the car into Neutral is a good idea, especially if really need to stop in a hurry.
.

Although you would think that the computer in a car would override someone pulling out the key while it is moving, to make it safe.

As soon as you start having computers involved you want to have pretty good failsafe software though.
You would expect the brakes override EVERYTHING - and it sounds like that is what the software does now - but maybe didnt at the time.

As for pulling out the keys... It probably has a proximity card (as many hybrid/fancy cars do now) and just the ON button on the dashboard.
Maybe they need a dirty big red KILL/OFF button under a nice little plastic cover - or a "break glass and activate alarm" switch!

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ajobbins

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#863597 22-Jul-2013 14:16

robjg63:
mattwnz:
ajobbins:

It is strongly advised NOT to do this in an emergency. You often shut off vital systems designed to help you in an emergency (Especially in modern cars). Even if the accelerator got stuck to the floor, the cars brakes should have enough power to bring you to a stop, however putting the car into Neutral is a good idea, especially if really need to stop in a hurry.
.

Although you would think that the computer in a car would override someone pulling out the key while it is moving, to make it safe.

As soon as you start having computers involved you want to have pretty good failsafe software though.
You would expect the brakes override EVERYTHING - and it sounds like that is what the software does now - but maybe didnt at the time.

As for pulling out the keys... It probably has a proximity card (as many hybrid/fancy cars do now) and just the ON button on the dashboard.
Maybe they need a dirty big red KILL/OFF button under a nice little plastic cover - or a "break glass and activate alarm" switch!

Again, you don't want a big "kill" button, as you do not want to kill the car systems while you are still moving. You would lose things like ABS, stability control/skid control, traction control etc which can very much mean the difference between stopping safely and a horrible crash.

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robjg63

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#863674 22-Jul-2013 15:42

Well a 'Kill' the forward motion bit anyway.

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rhy7s

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#863698 22-Jul-2013 16:04

Mark:

"emergency handle" ?? Is that what they think the handbrake/parking brake is ?

It seems to be quite common in the States to rely on the transmission to keep the vehicle stationary rather than engaging the handbrake, automatics are so prevalent that I suppose you can get away with it most of the time.

ubergeeknz

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#863704 22-Jul-2013 16:08

rhy7s:
Mark:

"emergency handle" ?? Is that what they think the handbrake/parking brake is ?

It seems to be quite common in the States to rely on the transmission to keep the vehicle stationary rather than engaging the handbrake, automatics are so prevalent that I suppose you can get away with it most of the time.

Yeah that seems to be a thing over there. I always thought it weird, since I've always been taught to set the handbrake when parking a car (even with Automatic). But then maybe carparks tend to be more level in most of the US than what we have to deal with.

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ajobbins

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#863709 22-Jul-2013 16:15

Many modern cars now have an electric handbrake, operated by a push button. I doubt that would engage while the vehicle was moving. Some cars also have an automatic hand brake (I believe it's engaged when you put the car in 'Park')

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blakamin

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#863844 22-Jul-2013 20:08

ajobbins:
robjg63:
mattwnz:
ajobbins:

It is strongly advised NOT to do this in an emergency. You often shut off vital systems designed to help you in an emergency (Especially in modern cars). Even if the accelerator got stuck to the floor, the cars brakes should have enough power to bring you to a stop, however putting the car into Neutral is a good idea, especially if really need to stop in a hurry.
.

Although you would think that the computer in a car would override someone pulling out the key while it is moving, to make it safe.

As soon as you start having computers involved you want to have pretty good failsafe software though.
You would expect the brakes override EVERYTHING - and it sounds like that is what the software does now - but maybe didnt at the time.

As for pulling out the keys... It probably has a proximity card (as many hybrid/fancy cars do now) and just the ON button on the dashboard.
Maybe they need a dirty big red KILL/OFF button under a nice little plastic cover - or a "break glass and activate alarm" switch!

Again, you don't want a big "kill" button, as you do not want to kill the car systems while you are still moving. You would lose things like ABS, stability control/skid control, traction control etc which can very much mean the difference between stopping safely and a horrible crash.

Not to mention that on any car, the brake booster only works while the engine is running... also power steering.

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#863868 22-Jul-2013 20:50

Emergency handle is the wrong word.

It's called the e-brake in the states. It's like their stick shift to our manual transmission.

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#863873 22-Jul-2013 20:52

ubergeeknz: Using it as a last resort is a sensible measure.

Been there done that. Handbrake saved me smashing into a solid brick retaining wall down a steep driveway after my foot slipped off the brake. This was in an 80's ford escort.

Learnt two lessons that night: don't drive with wet shoes and handbrakes can save your ass!

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#863895 22-Jul-2013 21:13

blakamin:

Not to mention that on any car, the brake booster only works while the engine is running... also power steering.

Actually as already mentioned there is a vacuum reserve in the brake booster which will give three or more pumps on the brake pedal before power braking is lost. Some cars these days have electric power steering so no need for the engine to be running for that in some cases either.

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blakamin

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#863937 22-Jul-2013 22:04

Technofreak:
blakamin:

Not to mention that on any car, the brake booster only works while the engine is running... also power steering.

Actually as already mentioned there is a vacuum reserve in the brake booster which will give three or more pumps on the brake pedal before power braking is lost. Some cars these days have electric power steering so no need for the engine to be running for that in some cases either.

Ever tried stopping from 100 with no engine? 3 pumps doesn't help ;-P
I wouldn't even do it from 50.

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#863943 22-Jul-2013 22:14

Technofreak: Some cars these days have electric power steering so no need for the engine to be running for that in some cases either.

Hence turning off the key (and therefore the electrics) is still not a good idea.

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ubergeeknz

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#864092 23-Jul-2013 09:38

blakamin:
Technofreak:
blakamin:

Not to mention that on any car, the brake booster only works while the engine is running... also power steering.

Actually as already mentioned there is a vacuum reserve in the brake booster which will give three or more pumps on the brake pedal before power braking is lost. Some cars these days have electric power steering so no need for the engine to be running for that in some cases either.

Ever tried stopping from 100 with no engine? 3 pumps doesn't help ;-P
I wouldn't even do it from 50.

Yes, no problem at all - the trick here (you know, if you need to because of engine failure) is don't let up the brake pedal, every time you release it you bleed off brake boost pressure.

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